Fiscal 2020 Deficit Through January

The graph below compares the U.S. federal deficit by month to the prior fiscal year. Through the first four months of Fiscal 2020, the U.S. deficit was $388 billion, which is $78 billion more than Fiscal 2019.

The deficit for January 2020 increased by $55 billion due to February payments that were made in January. It was a timing shift that occurred because February 1 was a Saturday. A similar timing shift will occur in February, since March 1 will fall on Sunday. These timing shifts will equalize by the end of March, which is halfway through the fiscal year.

Excluding the $55 billion timing shift, the Fiscal 2020 deficit is approximately 7.5% higher than last year. Based on current projections, the U.S. deficit will exceed $1 trillion, which hasn’t happened since 2012.

Fiscal 2019 Deficit Through May

The chart below compares the U.S. government’s monthly deficit or surplus for Fiscal Year 2019 with Fiscal Year 2018. Through the end of May, which is seven months into the fiscal year, the U.S. government has overspent by $738 billion.

To make a fair comparison, the May deficit is $50 billion higher, because of June payments made in May. Since June 1 was on Saturday, certain expenditures were paid in May instead of June. If you subtract out this extra $50 billion the deficit was still $688 billion, which is still $155 billion more than the prior seven month period. The CBO still estimates the Fiscal 2019 deficit will be less than $1 trillion, but it wouldn’t take much disruption, either from an economic slowdown or unexpected expenditures, to push beyond the $1 trillion mark.

Excluding the $50 billion timing, the U.S. government is overspending in excess of $22 billion per month. How does that affect you?

Fiscal 2019 Deficit through March

The U.S. government’s deficit for Fiscal 2019 through March 31st was $693 billion. This is $103 billion more than the first half of of Fiscal 2018.

The deficit for Fiscal 2019 is expected to exceed $1 trillion. Consequently, the overspending for the next six months is expected to be approximately 50% less than the first six months. The tax payments received in April are the primary reason the deficit will be much less, as the Federal government will continue to spend at nearly the same rate as the last six months.

How concerned are you with a deficit that is more than $100 billion greater than last year; a 17.5% increase?

Fiscal 2019 Deficit through December

Below is a chart comparing the Fiscal 2019 deficit by month with Fiscal 2018. The cumulative deficit for the first quarter of 2019 is $317 billion, which is $92 billion more than the prior fiscal year.

Revenues for the first quarter were 1% higher than the prior year, and expenditures were 9% higher. It doesn’t take a financial genius to recognize the financial peril of expenditures growing much faster than revenues. It only works because the U.S. government continues to borrow money to sustain the spending. The U.S. will borrow nearly $1 trillion this year alone to maintain its rate of expenditures, and by the end of the fiscal year, the total U.S. debt will exceed $22 trillion.

What do you think about government revenues growing at 1%, while expenditures are growing by 9%?